Mandatory Health Insurance Starts This Month—Are You Ready?

Beginning in January 2014, everyone, with certain exceptions, is required to have minimum, essential health care insurance. This issue has received a significant amount of press coverage recently, both negative and positive. Regardless of your opinion related to the issue, the mandatory insurance requirement, together with the accompanying penalties for not being insured, premium assistance credits, and insurance subsidies, all begin in 2014. The new marketplace, also called exchanges, where insurance policies can be purchased, have debuted already, but with mixed success. These new provisions are all part of the Affordable Care Act (sometimes referred to as Obamacare) that are being phased in over a number of years.

How this will affect you and your family will depend upon a number of issues:

Already insured – If you are already be insured through an employer plan, Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Administration, or a private plan that provides minimal, essential health care, then you will not be subject to any penalties under this new law.

Those exempt from the mandatory insurance requirement – The following individuals are exempt from the insurance mandate, and will not be subject to a penalty for being uninsured:

Individuals who have a religious exemption

Those not lawfully present in the United States

Incarcerated individuals

Those who cannot afford coverage based on formulas contained in the law

Those who have an income below the federal income tax filing threshold

Those who are members of Indian tribes

Those who were uninsured for short coverage gaps of less than three months

Those who have received a hardship waiver from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who are residing outside of the United States, or who are bona fide residents of any possession of the United States.

Help for those who can’t afford coverage – Individuals and families whose household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level will qualify for a varying amount of subsidies to help pay for the insurance in the form of a Premium Assistance Credit. The lower the income, the more substantial the credit, which slowly phases out as the income increases, and is totally eliminated when the income reaches 400% of the poverty level. For those in the lower income levels, the subsidy will usually cover the bulk of the insurance costs.

To qualify for that credit, the insurance must be acquired from an insurance exchange operated by the individual’s or family’s resident state, or by the federal government when the state does not have an exchange. These exchanges have been up and running (more or less) since October 1, 2013, allowing individuals and families to apply for coverage which will become effective as of January 1, 2014.

There has been considerable negative press related to the federal exchange. The federal Internet site has not been functioning efficiently, but the administration says the problems will be corrected so everyone who needs to, can apply. Individuals who reside in states with their own exchange will use their state’s exchange and should not be concerned with the federal exchange. In general, the state-run exchanges seem to be operating smoother than the federal exchange, but some of the state exchanges have also had their problems. Some insurance companies offering insurance through an exchange also offer assistance in signing up through the exchange without going through the website. But be cautious—to be eligible for a subsidy, the insurance must be purchased through an exchange. If you purchase a policy directly from an insurance company without going through an exchange, you won’t be qualified for a subsidy, regardless of your income level.

It is important to note that the subsidy is really a tax credit based upon family income. It can be estimated in advance, and used to reduce the monthly insurance premiums; it can be claimed as a refundable credit on the tax return for the year; or it can be some combination of both. However, it is based upon the current year’s income and must be reconciled on the tax return for the year. If too much was used as a premium subsidy, some portion may need to be repaid. If there is an excess, it is refundable.

If household income is below 100% of the poverty level, the individual or family qualifies for Medicaid.

Penalty for noncompliance – The penalty for noncompliance will be the greater of either a flat dollar amount or a percentage of income:

For 2014, $95 per uninsured adult ($47.50 for a child), or 1 percent of household income over the income tax filing threshold

For 2015, $325 per uninsured adult ($162.50 for a child), or 2 percent of household income over the income tax filing threshold

For 2016 and beyond, $695 per uninsured adult ($347.50 for a child), or 2.5 percent of household income over the income tax filing threshold

Flat dollar amounts – The flat dollar amount for a family will be capped at 300% of the adult amount. For example, in 2014, the first year for the penalty, the maximum penalty for a family will be $285 (300% of $95). But for 2016, the maximum penalty jumps to $2,085 (300% of $695). The child rate will apply to family members under the age of 18.

Overall penalty cap – The overall penalty will be capped at the national average premium for a minimal, essential coverage plan purchased through an exchange. This amount won’t be known until a later date.